Methods of producing a paper product

Abstract

An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A pulp produced in accordance with the process of:
 (a) contacting a charge of a lignocellulosic material with water, the lignocellulosic material containing an initial amount of xylan, the water and charge of lignocellulosic material maintained at a temperature in the range of between about 20° C. and about 200° C. and lowering the pH to between about 3 and about 6.9 by producing acetic acid from the reaction of the water and lignocellulosic material for a period of about 10 minutes to about 4 days, to form extracted lignocellulosic materials; and   (b) pulping said extracted lignocellulosic materials.   
     
     
         13 . The pulp of  claim 12 , wherein the pulp is bleached and has a brightness greater than about 90%. 
     
     
         14 . The pulp of  claim 12 , wherein the pulp has a specific surface area between about 5,000 cm 2 /g and about 40,000 cm 2 /g. 
     
     
         15 . The pulp of  claim 12 , wherein the pulp has a specific surface area between about 15,000 cm 2 /g and about 25,000 cm 2 /g. 
     
     
         16 . The pulp of  claim 12 , wherein the pulp has a specific volume between about 1.5 cm 3 /g and about 4.0 cm 3 /g. 
     
     
         17 . The pulp of  claim 12 , wherein the pulp has a specific volume between about 2.75 cm 3 /g and about 3.75 cm 3 /g. 
     
     
         18 . The pulp of  claim 12 , wherein the pulp is effectuated by a process selected from the group consisting of mechanical pulping, chemical pulping and a combination of mechanical and chemical pulping. 
     
     
         19 . The pulp of  claim 18  wherein the pulp is effectuated by mechanical pulping. 
     
     
         20 . The pulp of  claim 19 , wherein the mechanical pulping is fiber separation by mechanical force.